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Character in Relationships

Character is a basis for trust in relationships. That is what a parent in any family seeks to see produced in children. Parents seek to have children who are dependable.

Character is usually established by the time we enter adulthood and it is founded on the values of culture or on whatever a family believes. The family belief system may be founded on values that uphold being trustworthy although others may not stress that area.

However, Christian character is based on the values of what the Bible teaches. It values being faithful to what God says in order to change who we are and how we do things. This is all because the word of God values how we function.

Now, when we talk about character in Christian circles we are talking about something that has to do with traits which also reflect the true character of God through us in terms of being faithful or just being honest. This is what the word of God produces in those who believe in Jesus Christ. It produces Christ like character.

What kind of character do you want to see produced? The kind of character you may want to see produced depends on the values that impact your life. Do you uphold Biblical values? If you do, then expect to be impacted by God’s values. When God’s values impact your life, they change your character.

There is a misconception to watch out for and that is, “miracles happen because of character”. It is God who works miracles. Character does not produce miracles. Anyone who has just given his life to Christ can cast out a demon or lay hands on the sick and see them healed. A new believer like this one might not even have what we call Christian character yet, but can already be in business with God in the Kingdom.

It takes time to produce whatever character is desired. It may take months or years of discipleship in Biblical values to produce it if Christian character is what is desired. We have to be concerned about what a new believer is being taught? If he is taught how to conduct himself in a way that upholds being faithful, trustworthy or honesty then such a one is most likely going to reflect Christ like character.

If you want people to see you as being dependable, you will need to have character and that is why we all need to have Christian character to make a real impression on people who do not know us very well. Not only for the sake of making an impression on people, but it is really for the sake of accomplishing what God has given us to accomplish in a way he wants it accomplished.

Character has a lot to do with how other people look at us and it is the true basis for trust in relationships. We should look past the veil of miracles and see what happens in any relationship with Jesus. In Matthew 7: 22-23 Jesus says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (KJV). Christ like character is produced when the word of God is consistently obeyed. Remember that Biblical values impact people’s lives in their relationship with Christ.